The Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer is yet more proof of the great quality at a great price that Sole is known for. If you’ve had a chance to try it at your local Sears or Dick’s Sporting Goods, then you know what I’m talking about. Let’s take an in-depth look at the E35 and see if it passes all tests.
Pros: Smooth, solid feel ● Heavy flywheel ● Quiet operation ● Great workout ● Great bang for your buck
Cons: The heart rate monitor grips tend to not work that well when you’re moving ● The fan is a bit weak ● The built in speakers are not the best
At a Glance:
From the research I’ve done, the Sole E35 seems to be a very highly rated model. Parts seem to be high quality. The ride seems to be smooth and comfortable.
Amazon’s website already has a list of features and whatnot, so I’m not going to make you read everything twice. In this article, I just want to take a minute to show you what I found in my research and what you can expect when you get the machine yourself.
Build Quality? As Good as the Gym Models?
Who says you have to go to a gym to get a quality machine?
The Sole E35 is a solid, comfortable machine. Its heavy 25-pound flywheel helps smooth out the motion, and the solid frame doesn’t flex even at higher resistance levels and with hard motions. Generally, you want all the pivot points to have good bearings for a quiet ride, and everything here looks okay.
You don’t want something that is jerky, clunky, or noisy. On top of bothering others during your workout, you may not even feel like doing the workout at all if you don’t like the way the machine feels. If you enjoy using it, you’ll find yourself wanting to exercise more often.
When it comes to price, what you are really paying for a is more enjoyable experience. A smooth ride on a quality machine can make the difference between “oh, I don’t feel like working out today” and “yeah, let’s fire up this machine and burn some calories.” That may seem like an exaggeration, but it has always been my experience that I will avoid using anything that I have to fight with.
It’s hard enough to work out as it is. Maybe you have a headache. Maybe you didn’t get much sleep. It seems that when it’s time to work out, just about anything can work as an excuse. Add a poor quality exercise machine into the mix, and you might as well just go ahead and open the potato chips.
Okay, back to the build quality. In general, you should find the Sole brand a bit better than offerings from Nautilus, Schwinn, or Livestrongs. Not that those are bad by any means, but Sole manages to edge them out a bit I think.
There are other benefits of a nice, smooth motion. It is a bit easier on your knees. Running actually causes a lot of jarring motions, so the smooth motion of elliptical machines can help you avoid joint problems in the long run. It can also make things easier for you if you already have health problems.
Before we move on, I wanted to give a quick tip on minimizing vibrations. It’s always a good idea to put your machine on a hard and flat surface, but do also consider getting a rubber pad to put under it. It can help keep the vibrations down slightly. Every little bit helps.
Use It and Lose It (fat that is)
It is important that an elliptical machine be able to accommodate people of difference shapes and sizes. Whether you are using it yourself or if you have family that may want to try it, it’s good to know if they can actually use it or not.
From what I’ve heard, both short and tall people should have no problem using it. With its 20” stride, it accommodates taller people, such as those over 5’10”, very easily. Shorter folks and children can still use it since they can simply grip the handlebars a bit lower.
I bought this elliptical for my husband and he couldn’t be more pleased. It was a challenge to put together, but it is whisper quiet and provides an exceptional work out. This model is equally as comfortable for my husband who is 6′ tall as it is for me who is almost a foot shorter. Excellent quality and excellent workout. Perfect combination!
Robin Babino, Amazon.com
During use, you may notice the heart rate monitors slipping a bit. This seems to be a fairly common occurrence, even on more expensive machines. In fact, they might even get in your way. If they slip around, you might not get an accurate reading, or it may not display a reading consistently. Luckily, this machine comes with a chest strap monitor that should solve this problem. That is a particular plus of this model since not all have that feature.
Received my Sole elliptical on May 6th and since then I have lost 14lbs and my wife has lost 17lbs. This is a great product, solid construction. I am glad I researched and purchased the unit.
Daniel, Amazon.com
You should have no fears of getting a good workout. This machine gives you all the tools you need to burn some fat. To keep things from getting boring, there are some nice features. There is a power elevation feature for example. Although, it seems that the reverse stride feature and changing hand positions can give you a bit better variation.
Things You May Notice During Use: Good and Bad
When you get your elliptical trainer, there are a few things you’ll notice right off the bat.
As I mentioned earlier, don’t expect much out of the fan. It doesn’t really do much. Of course, this is sort of a moot point. You can always use room fans or if you have a tall room, you can use a ceiling fan. Just remember that you are up higher on the machine than you would be if standing normally.
Likewise, don’t expect much from the built-in speakers. They are good enough to serve their purpose, but for many they leave a lot to be desired. They are handy though. I’ll give them that. Anyone wanting to listen to music can always use headphones or their own speaker system if they want to. You could always just listen to the TV for that matter.
On a more positive note, the machine runs very quiet. This is helpful for not drowning out the TV or bothering others in the house.
I’ve heard a few complaints about the interface and that it could use a bit of streamlining to make it easier to operate. I suppose you’ll get used to it, however. On the bright side, the display is actually fairly helpful and easy to read.
Don’t let any of these downsides dissuade you though. This is a quality machine and is better than many I’ve looked at.
Getting It Up and Running:
The first thing to consider is shipping. After that, it’s worth briefly discussing installation really quick, just so you know what to expect at least.
It’s heavy, as you would probably expect. If you don’t have a truck, you’ll definitely want it shipped. More preferably, you’ll want it delivered to the actual room you are going to use it in. If you are strong or have a helper, you can probably get it there yourself, but many will prefer a bit a help.
As far as installation goes, I’d say to expect to spend at least 2 to 3 hours minimum. It’s the standard affair for something like this. It shouldn’t be too hard, but you can always have someone help you.
Amazon has some services available for shipping and installation. So, have a look at those while you’re there. Just click the link below and scroll down until you see something called available warranties and services.
The warranty should cover most problems. This machine should last you a good while, but you never know when bad luck may strike. Sole should be able to fix and replace anything you need though should anything happen. Their service seems to be quite good.
Amazon is also offering free shipping at the moment.
Overall, I give the Sole E35 a very high recommendation. For the price, it is very capable. I doubt you would find much better. Give it a shot and see if you like it.
CLICK HERE to See Current Prices and Customer Reviews on the Sole E35 Elliptical Trainer at Amazon.com
